Forget stylish handbags and well-groomed partners. The compulsory accessory was an umbrella as the Sydney Film Festival opened last night with the first of a dozen red carpet screenings.

Guests squelched into the State Theatre to see Happy-Go-Lucky, the comic English drama that started the first international competition for new directions in film. The film's director, Mike Leigh, wasn't in town but guests included one of the stars, Alexis Zegerman, as well as Australian director George Miller and actors Richard Roxburgh, Rose Byrne, Barry Otto, Nash Edgerton, Matthew Newton and Damian Walshe-Howling.

The festival's executive director, Clare Stewart, said she was excited about the competition, which runs over the first 12 of the event's 19 days. "It's definitely going to amp up the atmosphere. The gala screenings have definitely increased the festival's profile."

The competition for the Sydney Film Prize and its $60,000 have attracted more international filmmakers than usual to the festival, including Britain's recent Cannes winner, Steve McQueen, Canada's Guy Maddin, Japan's Kiyoshi Kurosawa, New Zealand's Vincent Ward and Mexico's Carlos Reygadas.

The festival will screen contemporary international cinema programs, music films, children's screenings, the Hollywood animation Kung Fu Panda, and selected Mexican and Chinese films.